College Quest students perform waste audit

Students taking part in Western Washington University's Youth Programs summer class in environmental science and sustainability conducted a waste audit in front of Carver Gymnasium on campus Thursday.

The students, who have been learning this week about climate science with a special focus on the Nooksack River watershed, sorted trash from campus sources to determine how much recyclable material is being thrown away on campus.

The class was led by Katie Fleming, who holds a master's degree in natural science/science education from Western and a B.A. in television and film production from Indiana University. A devoted environmental educator, Fleming was the educational coordinator for RE Sources for Sustainable Communities in Bellingham. She is currently the community engagement director at FRIENDS of the San Juans, an environmental organization in Friday Harbor. She also teaches for Western Washington University’s Huxley College of the Environment.

The work was a collaboration between WWU Youth Programs and the Office of Sustainability as part of Zero Waste Western.